4/14/2011

Here is a pencil version of a drawing that will be apearing in a glamour girls book I am working on. I'll keep you posted on the completion of the book and some of the art to be featured in. Not all of them, as you understand I want YOU to buy this book, when it's out. ;)

It has a few nods to many of my favorite things. First of all, my very best friend is the model for this one. My all time inspiration when it comes to good girl art. She and I have hauled a long way, working together on many images thru out my professional carrier. I will never pay hommage enough to how inspirational she has been and hopefully will keep on being, during all those years.Then my inconditional love for Frenchbulldogs! Hell, mywebsitesays it all, right?The title for the issue is a nod to one of my favorite movies from Bollywood. K3G, for those who are in the know, Kabhi Kushi Kabbie Gham for the rest of you. I found the name, which translate to something likemoonlight square marketsounded like that of a distant other world, so I just decided to use it. Can't get more exotic than this.Finally, my passion for everything from the 40's/50's era, when it comes to science fiction and adventure!

Then, knowing what I need as reference, I call my freinds and models that would fit the bill. This time, I had help from Emmanuelle, since she has a figure close to the main character to appear on the cover this time. Hey, it's NOT always going to be funny pics, okay? Doodling and drawing sexy girls IS serious business.

Then I get started on pencils. For this assignment I decided to go full pencils and colors with Photoshop. I've grown really comfortable with the tonal paper from Strathmore, " Artagain " 12X18 60Ib. Several different colors you can pick from, usually for me, depending on the mood I want to set. First cover was a sunset so I went for yellowish tone. This one is going to be set in the blue, nightlike, type of mood.

2/14/2011

Hello ya cool cats,Just a little work in progress on my latest art break of the week end. Like a leisure crew on the banks of Spain. For that Awesome character that is John Blacksad comes from the minds of Uber-talented artist Juanjo Guarnido and Juan Diaz Canales.

2/12/2011

Since the cover is out now, I thought I'd show here part of the process I go through for such assignment.I get a few lines from my editor and start sketching a few lay-outs. Very loose.

At this stage, to me, it's more about the idea. To hint people with where the characters will stand and what they'll be doing. No intention of light, or mood/colors. Sometimes, if I feel someone might find it too loose to anticipate what it could look like, in the end - Not everyone has the ability to project himself in what the image will look like - I quickly put colors with photoshop on the lay-out. It usually sells the idea better.I also need sometimes to refine the lay-out, so I get to solve a few inconsistencies or tricky questions that might arise later, at pencil stage, and that I'd hate to be stuck with: tangents, between characters and background elements, or between characters themselves. From there, I know I'll still make last minute changes, slight ones, that no one will notice but will help the image be better. Says the less objective party in this.

At any stage, what really matters is that whoever commissions and/or validates should know I only try to improve on the image.

Then comes a decisive part of the process. At least for me, always aiming for more realistic rendering with a blend of graphic licence, still.

Anyway, it is always more fun when you have someone to assist you. A pain to deal with on your own: photo reference. Costume, obviously, never fits with someone my size. Not to mention the model looks ridiculous, too. heh. But it serves its purpose.That stage is actually helpful to gather data on how folds run on fabric, given the position of the arms, the way light hits that awesome six-pack... So on and so forth...Not to mention it's a tremendous help to "break" the habits of, let's say, drawing cloth and folds the same repetitive way. The process of relying on skills that have proven their efficiency pages after pages - and which sometimes helps define a style can also become a drawback - no pun intended - and I tend to assimilate it to artistic sclerosis. indulging in the same gimmickes slowly kills creativity, in my opinion. It has been one of my main struggles over the years, when it comes to my art: always try, as much as possible, to switch from one style to the other, and try in instill, inject a little bit of whatever I could understand from the previous. It helps break any of the bad habits that could lead an artist to choose the same angle to draw a fist, or a clutching hand, the same foreshortening viewor the same expression. Any artist knows what I am talking about as well as how hard it is to go against his own natural inclinations...

But enough considerations on what makes your habits-in-rendering become a style. All I know is observation is the key to rendering with variety.

Yeah, I know... Handsome Jedi, except for the short skirt.

I usually add a few filters on Photoshop to help me get in the color mood for the image, too. Praise Photoshop.

I decided to go for tonal paper on that series of covers. It helps on many levels: Setting the mood faster, because the shadows and hilites pop out immediately, making the color of the paper a third tone that adds volume to the designs. At this stage,I also use reference to capture the likeness of the actor, because it is requested. The tricky part was to make him look younger, especially given the size ( on the final piece he is only 6 inches tall ). Pressure? Naaaaah...

And then there was the chick. Scarce information on her is an understatement. Thank God Mahmud had a design he made of her. I hope my pencils do it justice.

For the rest of the piece, I drew the ship on a separate sheet. Then imported it on the final file. before putting the colors. I made the front look like the actual front view of the T shaped cooning towers for Star Destroyers. That's how much of a geek I can be, just in case the picture with the cheap suit didn't give it away already.

The 25 is because the cover was made as a celebration piece for Dark Horse 25th anniversary.

2/11/2011

This is an alternate cover for Scott Allie and Mahmud A. Asrar's " Star Wars: Jedi The Dark Side # 1( of 5 ).I am trying to build a progression in colors and composition with the next covers: One major color tone for each upcoming cover, and drawing - no pun intended - closer to the main character - and moving backwards again, after issue # 3. As if, within the body of work of all 5 covers, you'd progress closer to the character on the cover... like a zoom in. And after issue # 3, That would be a zoom out. I am also aiming for iconic poses. Mahmud is doing such a great job on action covers, in general and specifically on the title. Go check his blog.

Welcome to you all! Those of you who know of my more commercial art might be surprised to learn there's another facet to me. Or not. Most of us artists usually spent a fair amount of time doodling, sketching, in the subway, in parks, in cafés... If you are an artist and you don't do this, understanding the world you live in will take muuuuuuch more time!